"Sam, tell me now, are you really rushing home just to watch anime?" Alice's voice lowered slightly, as if carrying a seductive magic.
Sam, like a good child, shook his head a bit woodenly. "No."
As expected, Alice's expression grew more solemn. "Then why are you in such a hurry to go home every day, not participating in any clubs? Is it because you're working part-time?"
She waited, expecting Sam to reveal the truth.
"I..."
Sam's eyes seemed to struggle, hesitating to speak.
This was rare, usually seen in people with strong wills. Could it be that this handsome young man was actually very resilient? Interesting, but futile. No one could escape her gaze.
The classroom was empty now. Alice took a step forward, closing the distance between them.
Their proximity was so close, almost as if they were about to embrace, their breaths seemingly mingling.
Alice lowered her voice, sounding gentle and deep. "It's okay, tell the truth. I won't blame you. We are friends, just trying to guide you. There's nothing you can't say, so please, are you working outside school?"
"...No."
This answer surprised Alice. She looked at Sam, a bit taken aback.
"Why then?"
"Because I'm in a hurry to go home to play games."
Alice scrutinized Sam's eyes. He didn't seem to be lying, apparently still under her control.
But she didn't hear the answer she wanted. Had she misjudged?
"Haven't I told you to play fewer games? Didn't you listen to me?"
Sam, appearing a bit nervous, shook his head. "I've tried to play less, but I just can't resist. I don't know what to do."
Alice pondered for a moment, then said to Sam. "Okay, play fewer games from now on, okay? Tell me, can you do it?"
Sam looked up at Alice somewhat blankly. "I'll try my best..."
"Why can't you definitely do it?" Alice frowned, finding his reaction strange, something she hadn't seen before.
Sam seemed somewhat ashamed, lowering his head. "Because besides games, I don't know what else to do."
"You could go to bed earlier or participate in extracurricular activities. You're a student, isn't that what you should be doing?"
"But studying is so boring, I have no motivation."
So that was the reason?
Looking at this exceptionally handsome student, smelling his scent, Alice involuntarily took a deep breath. She quickly realized what she was doing.
Alice looked at Sam, speaking gently. "Then how about I give you some motivation?"
"What kind of motivation?"
Alice smiled enticingly, a taboo expression for a beautiful female teacher, likely to be misunderstood by many male students. But it's the taboo that makes it thrilling, right?
"Do you think your teacher is pretty?"
Sam nodded honestly. "Of course, you're pretty."
"Then, if you show significant improvement in the next test, I'll give you a reward, a very nice reward."
"What reward?" Sam asked curiously.
Alice thought, what an innocent boy, not yet exposed to a woman like herself, let alone in the role of a teacher. Her smile brightened at the thought.
"The reward can't be revealed in advance, but it will certainly be extraordinary. Can you promise me now to stop playing games and focus on your studies?"
"I will!"
"Then, will you listen to your teacher and join a club, becoming more sociable? If you have few friends, you can consider me as a good friend."
"I will!"
"Good. Now Sam, you should head home. I'm looking forward to your performance."
"Okay, thank you, teacher."
Watching Sam walk away, Alice involuntarily touched the corner of her lips as she gazed at his retreating figure.
"Strange... why did I say something like that, feeling this way? But... this young man named Sam really makes one want to care for him."
Sam hadn't gone far. He stood at the bottom of the stairs, looking up. "So this is the effect of the Temptation Constitution?"
Yes, Sam wasn't under control, but he had figured out Alice's ability.
Hypnosis.
The words guiding him were hypnotic, including "you can consider me as a good friend."
This was a classic psychological suggestion.
Even though Sam knew Alice was trying to hypnotize him, he played along. However, he didn't reveal the truth about his part-time job, instead deceiving her that it was about game.
"Ring."
At that moment, his phone rang.
[Be there at 2 PM sharp. I hate people who don't respect time.]
This was a message from Angel, accompanied by an address.
Sam's reply was brief: [Okay.]
A simple response, seemingly indifferent.
But this was his intention, not to let her think he was smitten by her beauty. This bland response might also give her the illusion that Sam wasn't particularly interested in her.
However, Angel, with her far superior social status, probably wouldn't tolerate this outcome. It might provoke her to try to conquer his indifference.